A Boy's Own Story"A Boy's Own Story traces an unnamed narrator's coming-of-age during the 1950s. Beset by aloof parents, a cruel sister, and relentless mocking from his peers, the boy struggles with his sexuality, seeking consolation in art and literature, and in his own fantastic imagination as he fills his head with romantic expectations. The result is a book of exquisite poignancy and humour that moves towards a conclusion which will allow the boy to leave behind his childhood forever. Originally published in 1982 as the first of Edmund White's trilogy of autobiographical novels, A Boy's Own Story became an instant classic for its pioneering portrayal of homosexuality. Lyrical and powerfully evocative, this is an American literary treasure."--The publisher |
From inside the book
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Page 20
... took no lunch but at three or four in the morning ate a supper of a plate - size steak , three vegetables , a salad , more bread and a dessert , preferably sugared strawberries over vanilla ice cream . His only drink was spring water ...
... took no lunch but at three or four in the morning ate a supper of a plate - size steak , three vegetables , a salad , more bread and a dessert , preferably sugared strawberries over vanilla ice cream . His only drink was spring water ...
Page 171
... took on a coy , neurasthenic ring . Women lived for love and talked about it and made their decisions by its guttering , scented light ; men ( at least a real man like my dad ) took the love that came their way gratefully but suffered ...
... took on a coy , neurasthenic ring . Women lived for love and talked about it and made their decisions by its guttering , scented light ; men ( at least a real man like my dad ) took the love that came their way gratefully but suffered ...
Page 197
... took place . Rachel didn't walk out on DeQuincey . DeQuincey didn't burn his poems , his " life work , " as he threatened to . She didn't send Tim off to her monster father in Miami ( " At least he's a real man , and absolute evil is ...
... took place . Rachel didn't walk out on DeQuincey . DeQuincey didn't burn his poems , his " life work , " as he threatened to . She didn't send Tim off to her monster father in Miami ( " At least he's a real man , and absolute evil is ...
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Common terms and phrases
Addressograph adult afternoon Andrew Holleran asked beauty beside blond blue body Boy's Own Story breath Buddhist Chris Cox Chuck cold Cork Cottage Cheese crew cut dark DeQuincey door Edmund White Eton everything eyes face Father Burke fear feel felt floor Forgetting Elena friends girl glass gray guys hair hand he'd head Helen Paper homosexual hour iconostasis Juliette Greco Kevin kids knees knew laugh legs light lips listen lived looked marijuana mother never night novel O'Reilly once pale penis play psychoanalysis pulled Rachel Scotts seemed sexual shirt shoulders shouted silence sister smell smile smoke someone sort sound stepmother talk tell thing thought told Tommy took turned Vaseline Virgil Thomson voice walked wanted who'd window woman wonderful Yeah young